Bridgeton pioneer., 1887-06-09
THE BOOM STARTED.
The Efforts to Erect a Y. M.
G. A. Building Com
M menced.
Over. $4,000 to Begin With.

Efforts to start the boom for Y. M
G. A. building were commenced last
thused the building committee con-
siderably. There had been invitations
sent out to the business men of the city
to meet last Thursday night at supper
at the Hotel Cumberland, and express
their views in reference to the ne W
| building and the advisability of erect
ing the same. The following gentle
men responded to the invitation and
sat down at supper in the dining room
of the hotel:-C. w. Shoemaker, Theo.
Edwards, w. J. MCGOWAN, J. H. Theis,
M. w. Appellate, Fred Smith, Chas.
Reeves, w. H. Woodruff, Chas. F.
Dare, A. E. Prince, DIR. H. W. Elmer,
W. E. Montelius, J. Reeves, Daniel
Bacon, William Terrell, W. L. Silvers,
! w. HI. Belden, Frank III. Riley, and
DR.. T.. J. Smith After supper the
party retired to the parlors, where
they met Mr.. G. H. Yatman, of New
ark, who had come to speak in the
| Opera House, and Walter G. Douglass,
of New York. Mr.. Yatman told the
gentlemen he had a desire to feel the
pulse of those present upon the mat
ter, and asked them to express their
views. This they did. Their opinions
differed somewhat. But the majority
were heartily in favor of the scheme,
and believed it to be to the best in
terests of the city to erect such build
ing on one of our main streets. The
question was raised as to whether
$50, was too much, and by many it
was thought too high a figure, but the
feeling finally settled to the opinion of
one of our business men, who said
that for years he had been saying of
such things, ''They can't be done,"
butsomehow they were done, and he
had stopped saying it. Finally, Mr..
Yatman asked that each person put
upon a slip of paper what he would
be willing to give if the building could
be built, and over $4,000, were repre-
sented by the Slips The meeting
then adjourned to the Opera House.
AS large an audience as was desired
were not present. Perhaps not more
than four or five hundred persons were
seated in the hall, and of those many
were ladies, and the business and
monied men were conspicuous by their
absence. Upon the stage sat num-
Der of ministers, business men and the
young men who were to sing in the
choir. An orchestra was present and
rendered delightful music.
The meeting was opened by chorus
| from the choir Song of Greeting"
after which the 10Th Psalm was read
by Rev. IT. g. Cass Prayer was offered
by Rev. DIR. Brodhead, and after sing
ing again by the choir, President Theis
made few remarks, stating the OBJ
ject of the meeting, and the object of
the Y. NJ. G. "A. and the great need of
an Association building.
Mr.. Walter G Douglass, member
of the international committee of New
York, was next introduced and made
a glowing address. He said the ques
ton was 'Shall we have building de-
voted exclusively to the highest de-
velopment of the welfare of our young
men?" The speaker had long since ceas-
ed to worry about the raising of the
money for such objects as these. That
always followed. Now the question
may arise, what does the city intend
to do with this building? This city, he
said, had population of $4,000 per-
sons. 1T had factories in which were
employed young men. You have from
1900 to 1900 young men, and what
are you going to do with them. These
men want recreation and companion
ship. Under what influence shall these
young men pass their life. The street
life or the Christian life. that is the
question for us to decide. We say
Christianity, and we must provide an
attractive place for them. The rum
seller makes his steps easy to climb and
their places attractive for the young
men.
We christian men need a good place.
If you erect such a place you will
reap a higher reward than from any
building which was ever built in this
community. The speaker then drew
picture of the interior of the new
building when it shall be completed.
In the first place we should have a
good library for our young men. 1t is
through the library that we can intro
I duce to our young men the best of
conpanionship. Then we will have
splendid gymnasium. This is what we
want. If the soul is to be developed
then We must develop the body. A
writer once asked the question. ''Is
life worth living and he was ans